Code A10 Year of Issue none Sector Agriculture The complete description of the NWRM a10_-_traditional_terracing.pdf Summary Traditional terraces consist of nearly level platforms built along contour lines of slopes, mostly sustained by stone walls, used for farming on hilly terrain. By reducing the effective slope of land, terracing can reduce erosion and surface run-off by slowing rainwater to a non-erosive velocity. This also increases the degree if infiltration and improves soil moisture. However, abandonment of traditional terracing can result in high levels of erosion and run-off due to the lack of maintenance of stone walls. Abandonment can also change the nature of local flora and fauna; this may not be beneficial, for example the spontaneous regeneration of vegetation can present a risk of wild fire spread on sloping land.This measure focuses on existing or traditional terracing as it involves less disturbance of the terrain than modern terracing such as significant levelling or cutting using heavy machinery. As the measure is highly labour intensive and costly to implement the focus of the measure would be in maintaining existing terracing rather than expansion. Illustration(s) Traditional terracing in montane areaSource: Gonzalo Delacámara’s presentation, NWRM Workshop 1 (Spain) Possible benefits with level Benefits Level BP1 - Store runoff High BP2 - Slow runoff High BP10 - Reduce erosion and/or sediment delivery High ES7 - Flood risk reduction Medium ES8 - Erosion/sediment control High ES9 - Filtration of pollutants Medium ES11 - Aesthetic/cultural value High PO3 - Improving status of hydromorphology quality elements Medium PO7 - Prevent surface water status deterioration Medium PO9 - Take adequate and co-ordinated measures to reduce flood risks High PO11 - Better protection for ecosystems and more use of Green Infrastructure Medium PO12 - More sustainable agriculture and forestry Medium PO14 - Prevention of biodiversity loss Medium Case study(ies) Traditional terracing in Veneto, Italy Water retention spaces, reforestation and grazing management in southern Portugal Full Context Pathway(aka Context) Default view Area(aka Level or Site) ALL